Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank my very good friend Senator Feeney. The Rudd government understands that investment in nation-building infrastructure is critical to set Australia on the path to boosting productivity and prosperity. Australia’s productivity performance has lagged in the past decade, as critical investment in infrastructure was neglected. We are addressing the supply pressures and infrastructure bottlenecks that those opposite left and failed to address in their 11½ years in government. In the face of the worst global recession in 75 years, the government stimulus packages were carefully designed to provide appropriate staged support to the economy while providing a plan for the renewal of Australia’s long-neglected infrastructure.

Phase 1 provided immediate stimulus to boost consumer demand. Phase 2 commenced work on important infrastructure investments that can be delivered quickly. And phase 3 focused on longer-term infrastructure investments, which are supporting jobs now and will continue to provide benefits to the economy well into the future. The stimulus measures put in place by the Rudd government will leave a legacy of improved infrastructure in a range of areas right across Australia. (Time expired)